South Park or North Park?

I have fished both, have property outside of Fairplay, but for various reasons, NP is hands down better choice. Jackson County is amazing…

I'd say Walden is very hostile to outsiders, and South Park is overrun with outsiders. They are both terrible and the fishing is for mediocre 10' stockers at best.
So you're best bet is Chatfield State Park. A buddy said he hammered big wipers stripping big streamers in the giant wake from the wakeboard boats. The key is to stay out of the way of the wakeboarder, but just in front of the giant wave. You cast into it and get hit like on Wicked Tuna.
Its a skill that takes a while but worth it... seriously

NP for sure. And contrary to the previous post, Walden loves visitors. Or most anyway. By far though tremendous fisheries all over the area with trophy fish. Never caught a stocker anywhere there in 40 years. Fish On!

Thanks for the feedback!

Hostile to outsiders? Do you mean aliens?

Perhaps Setzdahook is an Alien, if "it" prefers Chatfield to South Park!

Both parks are good, but NP is very far away, (from me, at least)

There are NO fish in North Park , just ask AWB.

Check out the fishing report at the Elevenmile Marina website. No straight arm required!! Now my buddies will believe me when I say I've hooked 2 state record rainbows there. Needle sharp hooks on my buggers failed to penetrate. In fact their rock hard jaw bent the point. Of course there are tons of skunk trips in my 44 years of fishing that place. It's a love/hate thing.! North Park will get ya more action and very nice sized fish, Watch the potholes from Berthoud Pass onward. Actually the potholes all around Elevenmile and Spinney aren't too shabby either.

I have fished both, mostly NP. The fish in NP have been more of a challenge to me. I am looking forward to a report. Thanks

With the Southpark reservoirs being a ten to twenty minute drive from our cabin I’ve never fished North Park.
With that said, I have many friends who have and they report it can be great and at times tough. ( Mosquitos I understand are big and hungry there at certain times of the year)
But I could say that great and tough part applies to just about every fishery I’ve ever had the pleasure of being on, both fresh and salt water, whatever works best for you is the way to go.
On the 10” stocker comment, I had over 400 trout at Spinney last year, not one fish was under 20”, yes unbelievable.
Bill

FMFO - THERE ARE NO FISH IN SPINNEY! and there "might" be some fish in NP but I not sure. As for 11 Mile I've caught all the fish there and moved them to Monument.

SoFly - I think it depends on what you're looking for. NP probably has the best browns and some nice Bows. And you can head to Steamboat for Pike. SP has literally almost everything else! The amount of different fish species in Antero is ridiculous.

Check the mouth... yep thats my broke hook in there. Ask SpiceyHombre... I caught that while he was saying.. AWB.. there ain't no fish in this pond

Thanks for the ideas and info.

I guess the biggest question for both areas is : nymph rig under indicator or strip some big streamers?!?!

Cheers

so fly,
Time of year water temp and several other factors will determine what presentation will work best. Streamers leeches and similar will work most anytime, Springtime is typically chironomid time. Start setting up just off the bottom and raise it 6-12” until you find out what depth they’re feeding at. Change colors and sizes, “ match the hatch” is key to success.
Bill
Some typical patterns that work.

@ malty.... I'm telling you the wakeboad wave bite is insane. You keep your boat just ahead of that big wave. The wakeboard boat sometimes gets real mad but its worth it........I woudn't make stuff up now would I?
Setz

He/Him/Alien Life form

Ain’t no fish in SP ponds. I will prove next weekend that there ain’t no fish in NP ponds either.

If you go to NP, stop in to North Park Anglers in Walden, buy a few flies, shoot the $!* with them and you’ll end up with some productive local tips. We found out about a nice spot on N Platte river by doing that.
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